Theodore Mead Newcomb (July 24, 1903 - December 28, 1984) was an American social psychologist, professor and author. Newcomb led the Bennington College Study, which looked at the influence of the college experience on social and political beliefs. He was also the first to document the effects of proximity on acquaintance and interpersonal attraction. Newcomb founded and directed the doctoral program in social psychology at the University of Michigan.

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Theodore Newcomb was born in Rock Creek, Ohio on July 24, 1903. His father was a minister. Newcomb attended small rural schools until he started high school in Cleveland. After graduating as valedictorian of his high school, Newcomb graduated from Oberlin College and attended Union Theological Seminary. While at seminary, Newcomb decided to become a psychologist. He completed a PhD at Columbia University in 1929.[1]

Newcomb led the Bennington College Study, an investigation into the attitudes and beliefs of students through their college careers.[1] The study highlighted the importance of reference groups in late adolescence for the development of social and political beliefs. It was also the first major study to interview a group of participants about their beliefs several times over a period of time.

Newcomb also studied factors associated with acquaintance and attraction, including the proximity principle. In one study, Newcomb looked at roommates assigned at random and found that they were likely to become friends.[3]